The dichotomy on Pinterest is changing, with the platform's male user base more than doubling in the last year, and sign-ups trending higher again in 2015. But what explains the sudden testosterone boost? With the ability to conduct more relevant searches, make quick purchases, and follow other like-minded men, it's no wonder men are flocking to the visual-focused social network.
Here are some interesting notes on the influx of male Pinterest users:
You're In Good Company
Pinterest reported that it saw a 73% increase in male users, year-over-year, in 2014. That number's actually outpacing Pinterest growth as a whole - in fact, one third of all Pinterest sign-ups are men.
Another interesting stat is that in some areas of the world - including Korea, India and Japan - the Pinterest male to female ratio is almost fifty-fifty. While, overall, the main Pinterest demographic skews towards women, it's clear than men are taking more interest.
Smarter Search Capabilities
Pinterest recently changed the way its Guided Search function works; it now generates more gender-specific search results. When you search for hats, for example, you're no longer overwhelmed with only women's products. Pinterest recognizes that you'll most likely want to see products that other males have pinned in the past, making your user-experience more relevant, and the hats you see more manly.
You Can Easily Make Purchases
One significant behavioral difference between men and women on Pinterest is the way they shop. Edison Research recently conducted a study that showed that men primarily pin products because they intend to purchase them, whereas women pin products as more of a wish list. (PRO TIP: Get great gift ideas by looking at the Pinterest boards of friends and family) According to the same study, women tend to use Pinterest to get ideas or inspiration on certain subjects, whereas men use it as a personal journal or an inventory of things they currently own.
It's Still Visual
Like most social media users, men tend to have short attention spans - looking at eye-catching images on Pinterest can seem more appealing than reading text only Tweets and Facebook posts.
There's no question that we'll continue to see an increase in male users on Pinterest, and right now is the perfect opportunity to take advantage of this early trend and capitalize on the male demographic. You may want to think about shifting your Pinterest marketing strategy to accommodate the male user - you can do this by creating male-oriented boards or promoting pins with men in mind.
How are you using Pinterest to market to men?
This post was originally published on Likeable Media.
Main image via Denys Prykhodov / Shutterstock